Cook Islands still hopeful China loan will come through

The Minister for the Cook Islands Investment Corporation is quietly confident that the mini games will go ahead on the main island Rarotonga next year.

This is despite not having heard from the China Import Export Bank as to whether a 10 million US dollar loan to be used for a stadium and upgrading sports venues has been approved.

The Bank had threatened to withdraw the funding unless new building plans were handed over which Tangata Vavia says has now been done.

He says whatever the Bank's decision the mini games will go ahead but the world youth netball tournament to be held at the same time could miss out.

"We probably won't have any venue available in the Cook Islands to handle that international netball, however I'm still hopeful the loan from the Chinese will come through and we'll get the netball international next year"

Tangata Vavia says the earthquake in China may have delayed any decisions from the Bank.